AN: Hi! Thank you for reading! If you didn't notice this is a star trek AU, but I've done my own little twist. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 3:

The Battle

Nicole rushed into the bridge and said, "Earp evasive maneuvers!"

Wynonna muttered a quick "Aye" before she zoomed away narrowly dodging an Anyarkan ship. The three ships got into a formation and Wynonna dodged them expertly. Nicole huffed impressed. She was an extremely skilled pilot.

"The best in all Starfleet," Dolls muttered scooting over to allow Nicole to take her seat.

"I can see that," Nicole said. "Holliday, can you disable their engines?"

"They have a modulating shield frequency on their engines, it's extremely difficult to pin point their pattern," Doc said.

"Gardner can you find an anomaly we can hide in?" Nicole said. "Just in case we can't disable them."

Mercedes started clicking away. "Three thousand light years away, class three nebula that should hide us, but only until they chart it."

Nicole hummed. "That can buy us a few hours, until we figure out their shield harmonics."

"That should be enough," Doc said.

"Great," Nicole said, "Earp change course to the nebula, Dolls take the bridge, Holliday head down to Engineering and figure this out with Bustillos and Hardy. Gardner you're with me to the conference room."

There was only a slight pause where the crew looked at Nicole with pure admiration. Just moments ago they were on the verge of panic and Dolls was at a loss for what to do. Nicole only took a moment to appreciate that then said, "get moving!"

"Aye Captain!"

...

Waverly looked at the angry face of the Dakarian King on the screen then took a deep breath to calm down the absolute panic the ambassador was feeling.

"Your highness, we are currently avoiding Anyarkan ships on a collision course, we need an answer," Waverly said.

The Dakarian King growled. "How could you do this Sario? You put years of peace in danger!"

"They want to kill me your highness!" The ambassador cried. "Please help me!"

"Why should I?" The king responded. "You've betrayed us with this act, Starfleet just give them the traitor."

"I plead asylum!"

Waverly whirled around in surprise. Asylum obligated Starfleet to protect the asker. The king on the screen snorted his annoyance. "Looks like he's your problem now, King Dakar out."

The screen went blank as Nicole and Mercedes entered the room. The ambassador turned to them desperately and cried out, "the king won't help me, I want Asylum!"

Nicole blinked her surprise. "A-Asylum?"

"As a member of the United Federation of Planets you have to grant me protection!"

"Captain," Mercedes said. "The prime directive prohibits us from getting involved in the affairs of other planets."

"But I'm asking for asylum so I can have a fair trial conducted by the Federation and not just executed by King Anyarka cause he's mad!"

Mercedes opened her mouth to argue but Nicole lifted her hand in the air to stop her. "Very well Ambassador. Counselor, contact King Anyarka and see if he's willing to call off his attack and agree to a trial held by the Federation."

"Aye Captain," Waverly said.

"Gardner," Nicole said. "Please take the Ambassador to the brig."

The ambassador paled. "The b-brig? Like a prisoner?"

"Since you know asylum rules so well," Nicole said getting up in his face. "Section 76, code 24, paragraph 20 of the United Federation of Planets Handbook: When members are seeking protection from an oppressive force they must be housed in private guarded quarters, but when the member is awaiting trial for a crime of another planet they must be housed in quarters protected by a level 10 force field or the ship's brig."

The ambassador blinked in shock and Waverly could have melted. Holy crap she was sexy.

Nicole smirked. "I choose the brig. Ensign."

Mercedes stepped forward with an armed phaser in hand and grabbed the ambassador's arm. "Let's go."

The ambassador and Mercedes walked out of the room together leaving Nicole and Waverly alone.

"King Anyarka here."

Nicole looked at the screen where the large fat king stared at them almost viciously. "Greetings your highness," Waverly said. "I am Commander Waverly Earp Counselor of the starship Purgatory."

"Purgatory!" The king yelled. "You have Sario! Give him to us now or be destroyed."

"Your majesty Ambassador Sario has requested Asylum," Waverly said. "He is currently in our brig and we would like to host the trial aboard the ship that's on route with one high judge from your planet, Dakara, and the Federation Supreme Court."

"There is no trial here! I want him dead!"

"I understand that..."

"You don't have a choice! Give him to us or we will take him! Even if that means destroying you!"

The connection cut off and Waverly sighed deeply, "he's too angry for logic."

"Okay option 2, let's disable his warships and then he won't have a choice," Nicole said.

"Good plan," Waverly said as the room darkened. She looked out the window and saw the purple fog that covered every window.

"We're in the nebula," Nicole said.

"The crew is nervous," Waverly said closing her eyes.

"Our first battle," Nicole said. "That's to be expected."

"More than usual because of this nebula," Waverly said. "It's normal for people to fear the dark."

"Can you calm them down?"

Waverly shook her head. "Not right now. I'm still affected by your emotions aboard the revenant ship. In about 15 minutes they should go away and then I can release calming emotions."

Nicole looked guilty. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, I offered," Waverly said.

"Thank you," Nicole said. "I'll, uh, go to Engineering and see how it's going with the shield harmonics."

"Captain, about that memory," Waverly said. "From when you were a Commander..."

"Not worth mentioning," Nicole said. "Shea was dark mark in my life. I'm over her. I guess the ambassador's story brought up those feelings."

"I won't offer to take those feelings away because you used those feelings to create a positive," Waverly said. "That kind of pain is good to have."

"There's such a thing as good pain?" Nicole said with a small smile.

"Sure is," Waverly said stepping towards. "I just wanted to say that she didn't deserve you."

"Oh?"

"The person who is your other half, who is meant to be with you forever will know the things that are important to you and support them even if it means negative consequences for them," Waverly said.

The truth of the words hit Nicole hard and suddenly she felt like crying.

"Don't despair," Waverly said reaching out for her.

Nicole stepped away. Waverly dropped her hand dejected and said, "Dr. Chetri helped me figure out why this is happening and developed a holodeck program to help me control it."

"Why is it happening?"

Waverly gulped. "It happens between people who have deep strong connections like...uh soulmates."

Nicole looked into Waverly's eyes. "Are we...s-soulmates?"

"I don't know," Waverly said breathlessly. "But when I see you my heart soars and I just...don't know."

"I think I get it," Nicole said nodding slowly. "I feel the same."

Waverly locked eyes with Nicole and the tension in the room was absolutely electric. Both women felt the irresistible pull and leaned in towards each other. They invaded each other's personal space, their bodies just an inch from touching, their lips hovering closely just almost there...

"Engineering to Captain Haught."

The parted rapidly and Nicole's cheeks burned. Waverly gulped and backed away from her cautiously. "Captain here."

"This is Lieutenant Hardy, I believe we've found the shield harmonics we need."

"I'm on my way."

Nicole only glanced at Waverly for a moment and then turned on her heel and left.

...

"Lieutenant report," Nicole said walking up to the buff man in his yellow shirt uniform.

"The shields modulate at a rate of three frequencies per second," Champ said. "Lieutenant Bustillos is deciphering the patterns now."

"Great is Lieutenant Commander Holliday helping her?"

Champ looked mortified. "Ehhh well no."

Nicole looked at him inquiringly. "Explain."

"Uh well you s-see they, uh..."

"We dated," Rosita said emerging from one of the Engineering rooms. "It didn't end well at all. We can work well together but we don't need to be anywhere alone. Doc is working on adjusting our deflector from the console upstairs to change the weapon system to modulate at the same rate."

"How mature of you," Nicole said. "But that might've been an important detail to disclose to your captain."

"Yes Captain," Rosita said. "I apologize."

"How much longer til we're ready to go?" Nicole said.

"Doc?"

From a small alcove in the corner at the top of the spiral stairs Doc called out, "2 hours."

"But when we need to put it online we're gonna have to take down our shields," Rosita said.

Champ handed Nicole a pad. "According to these specs taking down the shields in this nebula would be fatal to the crew. We will have to get out."

"Hmm," Nicole said. "And how long until we have shields and weapons back online?"

"5 minutes tops," Rosita says.

"More than enough time for major damage or destruction," Nicole said.

"Wynonna can evade for that long," Doc said from the alcove. "She's a fine pilot. She can avoid getting hit in vital areas."

"You would know," Rosita muttered bitterly rolling her eyes.

Nicole narrowed her eyes and Champ immediately jumped in, "I can assist on the bridge with protective force fields for any hull breeches."

"Very well," Nicole said. "Let's go."

...

"Has it passed?" Nicole said to Waverly as they sat on the bridge.

"Yes Captain," Waverly said smiling. "I sent calming emotions to the crew, spirits are a lot higher and ready for battle."

Champ Hardy approached them at that moment. "Captain, we are ready to go."

Waverly noticed that he a high level of infatuation for her and for Nicole equally and it bothered her. She wasn't sure if it was because Champ liked her or because he liked Nicole.

"Thank you Lieutenant, join Ensign Gardner in preparing force fields," Nicole said.

"Aye Captain," he said rushing to Merdeces' console.

Nicole clicked her badge. "Holliday, Bustillos are you ready?"

"Aye."

They both responded very quickly after each other and Nicole noticed Wynonna looked tense. She leaned towards Waverly and said, "jealous?"

"Very perceptive Captain," Waverly said. "Yes."

"Earp," Nicole said to Wynonna. "Are you ready to put those piloting skills to the test?"

Wynonna smirked and said, "born ready Captain."

"Dolls man tactical," Nicole said. "The moment everything is online, disable their engines and weapons."

Dolls immediately went to Doc's console and said, "Aye Captain."

Nicole sat in her chair beside Waverly and said, "let's do this."

Wynonna zoomed fast out of the nebula and the three Anyarkan ships immediately gave chase. "Shields offline!" Mercedes reported.

"They're charging phasers!" Dolls called out.

"Dodge what you can Earp!" Nicole said. "Ready emergency force fields!"

Wynonna maneuvered the ship almost violently and the bridge crew struggled to hold on but the maneuvering was able to dodge the phaser fire from the enemy ships.

The ship shook violently knocking three members of the crew on the wall hurdling towards the ground.

"Hull breech deck 6, force field up!" Champ said.

"Injury reports flowing in," Mercedes said. She clicked her combadge and said, "medical officers report to sick bay and prepare for wounded!"

"Incoming torpedo!" Dolls cried out. "Wynonna watch it!"

Wynonna yanked the controls hard making the entire ship make a 360 spin. It avoided the fatal torpedo but not the blast of it from when it exploded.

The ship shook violently, consoles exploded in a spray of sparks, several crew members were sent flying.

"Mercedes!"

Nicole looked back and saw Mercedes on the ground face bleeding and burned everywhere and Champ laying beside her with an obviously broken leg.

"She took the blast for me!" Champ cried grunting with effort as he forced himself to stand back up.

Dolls ran to their side and clicked his combadge, "Bridge to sick bay, heavy casualties on the bridge get ready!"

"Take her I got it," Nicole said running to Doc's console. She clicked her combadge, "Bridge to Engineering, we need this NOW!"

"Shields and weapons on in five seconds!" Rosita cried back. "We have heavy casualties here, Doc, I mean Lieutenant Commander Holliday is trying to pull crewmen from below a fallen beam it delayed us."

Another blast sent Wynonna flying out of her chair and both Dolls and Waverly cried out, "Wynonna!"

"I'm okay!" Wynonna said standing up quickly and returning to her spot. Wynonna's side was bleeding badly and she had a nasty cut on her forehead. "I'll bring us around for the triple gun shot Captain."

Nicole looked surprised. "My trip...how did..."

"It's what you're famous for Captain," Wynonna said. "It's why I'm honored to serve under you. In a low class shuttle with little defense and basic weapons you took out three revenant Warships with one single shot. Triple gun."

Nicole smirked and started tapping at the console. "Fly the ship straight up so that they well follow us, then bring it around hard at exactly an 210 degree angle and at impulse speed. One phaser hit will take all three of them out."

Waverly could have fainted. She was so confident and strong and controlled.

"Captain," Champ said through gritted teeth. "I have all the breeches covered, they won't last long."

"Good Hardy, now get to sick bay, your leg looks pretty bad," Nicole said.

"Captain I can help..."

"Lieutenant it's an order!"

Champ gulped. "Aye Captain."

Dolls who was carrying an unconscious Mercedes gave Champ a shoulder to lean on then he moved them into the turbolift.

"Shields are up!" Nicole said. "Earp go!"

"Hang on babygirl!" Wynonna cried yanking the controls hard. Waverly gripped the chair hard as the ship lurched.

"Turn now!" Nicole said.

Wynnona obeyed. Waverly could feel the adrenaline, fear, and excitement and it was almost too much to handle, she also felt the pain and devastation in other areas of the ship.

"Firing!"

Wynonna cheered loudly. "Got em BITCHES!"

"Earp!" Nicole scolded.

"Sorry Captain," Wynonna said.

Waverly stood up suddenly and said, "I have an idea! Captain can we hail King Anyaka again?"

Nicole nodded then walked over to Mercedes' console and clicked a few buttons.

"You disabled my ships!" King Anyarka's face appeared on the main screen red with anger.

Wynonna smirked with confidence and Waverly took front and center. "And we know your tactics. Right Captain?"

Nicole stepped forward and stood beside Waverly. "We have your exact shield harmonics and if you notice all of your ships are intact except for weapons and engines. We've been holding back and you know it."

"We do not want to resort to violence with one of our allies," Waverly said calmly and evenly. "You are a valuable member of the Federation and we want to maintain good relationships with you. Will you now concede to a trial held by the Federation?"

King Anyarka yelled loudly in anger then said, "but who will take away my pain and anger? Putting him in a brig for a few years will not take away this hurt that he has caused me!"

"And neither will killing him," Waverly said. "But I can."

"What?" King Anyarka snapped.

"I can take your pain away."

King Anyarka visibly calmed down but looked suspicious. "What are you? An angel?"

"Yes your majesty," Waverly said. "If I take this pain from you can you agree to a fair trial and negotiation?"

King Anyarka hesitated. "Alright."

Waverly turned to Nicole who immediately understood what to do. "We will remain here completing repairs, Counselor Earp and I will meet you at your location in a shuttle."

Wynonna whirled around in shock. She rushed to Mercedes' console groaning in pain from her wounds and muted the transmission.

"Earp what are you doing?" Nicole said firmly.

"Since Commander Dolls is helping with the injured and no other senior officers outrank me I'm technically the first officer here," Wynonna said.

"Well technically..." Waverly started.

"Official ranks Waverly," Wynonna said. "Captain as your acting first officer my main job is to protect the Captain. I must strongly recommend that I go with Waverly."

"You're injured Wynonna!" Waverly cried.

"Okay Dolls or Doc then," Wynonna said. "As a captain you need to stay with the ship."

"Noted," Nicole said. "Now unmute the transmission then go to sick bay."

Wynonna grunted as she moved herself back to the console. "Why was I muted?" King Anyarka snapped.

"I want to make sure it's very clear to you," Nicole said. "We are acting in the capacity of messengers, Purgatory is still fully capable with attacks and defense and the Starship Destiny that has the mediation team is five thousand light years away and they have just as much firepower. Any act of aggression against Counselor Earp or myself will be considered an act of war and will be met with force."

Anyarka huffed angrily. "Very well Captain, I've sent you the coordinates."

The transmission cut off and Wynonna whined, "Captain..."

"I heard your objection but this is a mission of diplomacy and that responsibility falls on the Captain."

"Wynonna go to sick bay please!" Waverly cried.

"Alright alright."